The best scientific research was this year
written in Tallinn University of Technology 19. October

For the second
time Estonian Wooden Houses Cluster in co-operation with Estonian Wooden Houses
Association issued awards for scientific research work of pre-fabricated wooden
houses. The awards were presented by Tea Varrak, Vice-Rector for Innovation and Business Relations at Tallinn University
of Technology, on October 18.

From left: Ats Buddell, Katrin Nele Mäger, Magnus Lelumees

Photo by: Tiit Tamberg/Puitmajaklaster

The best
research was this time written by Katrin Nele Mäger from Tallinn University of
Technology. Her thesis concentrated on implementation of new materials tothe component additive method for fire design of timber
structures.

“I believe that
my work will increase knowledge of engineering of timber structures’ fire
design and trust towards wood as a safe building material,” said Mäger.

„I am very
positively surprised and I am really happy for the award and acknowledgement,“ added Mäger.

According to the jury the winning work was very thorough, it includes high
level tests, analysis and provides an important input into development of fire
resistance of timber structures. Katrin Nele Mäger’ s fire design formula for
gypsum boards is an important input that considerably helps to increase the
speed of engineering of element and modular houses in future.

II prize winner Ats Buddell’ s (Estonian Academy of Arts) work offers a
constructive solution specific to wood, with emphasis on creating a building
system that is based on architecturally clean and elegant wood with its natural
structure. The work provides a thorough overview of using wood in urban space
and to characterize the idea he offers a plan of a timber frame building to
fill a gap in Tallinn city center that has various limitations. According to
the jury the work has been written in a simple, catching manner emphasizing the
benefits of wood as a material and building from wood.

III prize went to Tallinn University of Technology MSc Magnus Lelumees and
his thesis about a renovation solution of a student hostel using modular wooden
elements. The jury notes that the work is thorough, with fine analysis and
actual because it is the first time a similar renovation solution has been used
in Estonia. The research is important because it covers reconstruction and
insulation of reinforced concrete apartment buildings – most of Estonia’ s old
apartments that are soon going to be outdated – with modular wooden elements.

The goal of Estonian Wooden Houses Cluster of awarding scientific research
work is to motivate students to consider research topics relevant to the wooden
houses sector, development of co-operation between the cluster and universities
and guiding of science and development activities concerning production of
pre-fabricated houses.

Estonian
Wooden Houses Cluster:

Estonian
Wooden Houses Cluster currently has 41 members, 36 of whom are companies
engaged in production of timber houses. The consortium also includes professional
associations, educational and science institutions and supporting organizations
contributing to the sector’ s development. The umbrella-company and initiator
of Estonian Wooden Houses Cluster is Estonian Wooden Houses Association.

Estonian
wooden houses sector’ s sales revenue was approximately 318 million euros in
2015 and based on absolute numbers Estonia is Europe’ s number one wooden
houses exporter.